Skip bar cutter



July 27, 1954 R MYERS I l I 2,684,715

SKIP BAR CUTTER Filed April 16, 1952' 2 Sheets-Sheet l 46 M @FQ-'1- IN VEN TOR.

. Raglfr'lyod L. myers Qq'm w July 27, 1954 I R MYERS 2,684,715

SKIP BAR CUTTER Filed April 16, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 bo Pg- 5 l I 5,4f@ 19 55 i l 'j' u 16 (t) l i fj K d 33 i Q0'1HlllIllllllllllllllH-mIllllllllllllllllllllllIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIVIIII lIH l"5` 4I7` ,"IO D 5 30. /3`5"4"45 50 55 60 55 11/ I-l IN V EN TOR.

Ragmgyncl L. mgevs Patented July 27, 1954 UNITED STATES @ATENT FICE SKIPBAR CUTTER Raymond L. Myers, Holden, Mass., assignor to The Wright Line,Inc., a corporation of Massachusetts 2 Claims.

This invention relates to a skip bar cutter, and more particularly to adevice for cutting notches in the edge of a bar which determines theposition of the carriage in a key punch machine.

A key punch machine of standard type is used for punching holes in cardsin desired locations according to data that is to be tabulated thereon.The skip bar has notches cut in its edge, corresponding with the tabularstops on a standard typewriter, which determine the location of the'card positioning carriage. That is, the skip bar and associatedmechanism on the machine insures that the card may be punched only inlocations where one of the notches in the skipbear is positioned in adenite relation to the punch. The machine jumps or skipsautomatically'from one notch to another so that no time is wasted inmoving the carriage to the next punching position. Thus the operator maypunch the card in locations determined exactly by `these notches, andthe card may not be punched when the high spots of the skip bar arelocated opposite the punch.

To make this skip bar, it has heretofore been required that the notchesbe cut relative to a scale marking on the card and that the operator usea sharp pointed scriber or stylus to mark the bar in locations relatedto the card markings where the punch marks are to be cut out. Thereafterthe operator fastens the bar in a vise and les out the slots inaccordance with the scribed markings. This is a laborious andtime-wasting operation and requires considerable attention and skill onthe part of the operator.

The primary object of this invention is to overcome that problem and toprovide a cutting device which may be used readily and quickly -forpunching the skip bar notches with precision.

For a standard machine it is required that `the skip bars have notchesrepresenting two levels or what are termed low and high bar cuts. Afurther object of this invention is to provide a device which will serveto cut both the high and low bar notches with accuracy.

Another object is to provide a simple device which will cut elongatednotches readily and accurately. Further objects will be apparent in thefollowing disclosure.

Referring to the drawings illustrating a preferred embodiment of thisinvention:

Fig. 1 is a top plan View of a typical skip bar having high and low barnotches as well as elongated notches cut in desired locations;

A, Fig. 2 is a vertical elevation of one form of a machine punch adaptedfor cutting the bar;

Fig. 3 is a disassembled sectional View of the skip bar and anassociated scale bar which serve for locating the positions of thenotches to be cut;

Fig. i is a top plan View of the machine work table with the barslocated thereon in a high bar cutting position, this view being partlybroken away to show the lever pivot;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4 which shows the skip bar located forcutting a low bar notch;

Fig. 6 is a similar View with the skip bar arranged at an angle forcutting an elongated high bar notch; and

Fig. 7 is a similar view for cutting a short flat bottomed notch in alow bar position.

This invention pertains primarily to the manufacture of skip bars whichare made of an easily cuttable material, such as a synthetic plastic ora resinoid cemented cloth or other iibrous material. A suitable plasticor resinoid may be a phenol formaldehyde condensation product, and thebar may be made of layers of cloth cemented together and embedded in theresinoid. This skip bar It is shown in Fig. 1 as a typical shape havingall of the dilTerent types of notches out therein. It is removably aixedto a metal scale bar ll having a straight edge, with the scale edge andthe operative edge of the skip bar in a parallel relationship and whichare so arranged that the skip bar may have notches cut in it inaccordance with positions indicated by the scale on the bar l l. To thisend the scale bar Il may be made as a strip of steel or other suitablematerial and provided with desired markings adjacent its edge whichcorrespond with the markings of the various positions on the tabulatingcard to be punched. The scale bar is provided with a rivet forming aprojecting peg l2 adapted to t snugly in a locating hole 3 on the skipbar, and with a further projecting peg i4 to be tted into a slot I5 inthe skip bar. The pegs are made of different diameters so that the skipbar can be located on the scale bar only in a proper position. As shownin Fig. 4, the skip bar projects laterally beyond the scale bar to anextent which provides for cutting the deepest notch needed. Thus the twoparts may be locked together and moved as a unit although readily takenapart.

The notches represented on the top portion of the bar in Fig. 1 are cutby means of a punch lli (Fig. 2) which is mounted for verticalreciprocation in a suitable punch press. The punch i6 is shown as a longmember of a uniform substantially rectangular cross section, but withslightly rounded corners so as to make a better cut in the plastic orfibrous material of the skip bar. This elongated cutter or punch it isvertically reciprocable in a triangular slot in the press frame Il' andheld therein by two straps I3 and I9 bent to provide triangular' groovesand suitably attached to the frame Il, as by set screws. The lower strapis shaped to provide a downwardly projecting pointer 2t located exactlyopposite the front corner of the punch It, which thus serves as anindicating guide. The punch projects above the retaining framework to aposi tion where it is engaged by a handle lever 2| pivoted at 22 on apin on the lever by a bearing in the upwardly projecting lug 23 of theframe. The near end of the lever 2| rides in a vertical slot behind theretaining lug 2c on the frame. By lifting the lever to a verticalposition, it may have its pivot pin 22 inserted in the bearing hole inthe upright 23. A spring 25 surrounds the shank of the punch or cutteri6 between a shoulder 26 on the U shaped front portion of the frame anda collar 2l iixed on the cutter and tends to hold the cutter in anupward position against the weight of the hand lever. When the skip baris to be punched, a downward blow on the end of the handle lever 2l willthrust the punch downwardly with sun cient force to cut the requirednotch in the skip bar. For that purpose the skip bar is on the table 3i!of the frame of the punch device. The table is provided with a suitableopening therethrough so shaped that the punch may enter it and insuresevering the skip bar niaterial. The punch press may also be providedwith a U shaped member 3| projecting downwardly beneath the table 3i!which has a suitable screw clamp 32 for clamping the table 36 onto anysuitable surface, such as a table or desk. Various constructionalfeatures may be employed by a mechanic skilled in the art for mountingand operating the punch press.

A primary feature of this invention lies in cutting the high and low barcuts or notches on the skip bar. A low bar cut is a deep notch, such asthe notch 33 (Fig. l) and a high bar cut is a more shallow notch, suchas the notch 3ft. The bottoms of all high bar notches are to lie in agiven plane parallel with the front edge fil of the skip bar, and thelow bar notches are out to a deeper plane parallel with the first. Tothat end, the punch press is provided with a movable and replaceablesteel bar 35 which has two downwardly projecting cylindrical rivet pins3G and 3'! (like the corresponding parts on bar il) which are adaptedvto be mounted in holes 3B and 39 (Fig. 5) drilled in the top of thetable 30. These holes hold the bar in a forward position with its frontedge 45 serving as a straight edge for holding and guiding the straightfront edge 4l of the skip bar that is to have high bar notches cuttherein. That is, the assembly of scale bar and skip bar, which havepreviously been clamped together, may be laid against the front locatingedge 4i! oi the iixed bar 35 with the skip bar on the bottom and restingon the table Sil, and then the assembly may be moved as desired relativeto the pointer 2E! which is in front of and indicates the center frontedge of the substantially rectangular cutter it. Hence, if the scale baris located with one scale marking opposite that point 20, then the skipbar may have a notch cut in its exposed or projecting portion in anexact position which will correspond with a like numbered position onthe card that is to be subsequently punched by the key punch machine.Thus, by moving the scale bar and its projecting skip bar to variouspositions, notches may be cut as required.

These locating holes 38 and 33 provide for cutting high bar or shallownotches. If a deeper or low bar notch is to be cut, such as the notch 33(Fig. l), then the locating bar 35 is moved back so that its pegs 36 and3'.' fit into two holes d2 and 43 respectively that have been drilled inthe top of the table 39 of the machine. A center line through theseholes is spaced by an exact distance back of a line passing through thecenters oi the front holes 35 and 3'! so that the skip bar and its scalebar may be moved forward towards the punch and the punch will thereforecut a deeper notch. Hence, to cut shallow or deep notches, the locatingbar is adjusted to either a front line position as indicated in Fig. 4or to the rear line position of Fig. 5 for cutting a low bar deep notch33.

For certain uses of the key punch machine, it is desired that the notchbe elongated or extend for a considerable distance along the skip bar,such as the notches d5 (Fig. l). To this end, l provide the table Bilwith a further sell 0f holes 13'! and it (Fig. el) arranged at 45degrees to the center line of holes 3B and 39, which are adapted todetermine a front or high bar cut and other holes d and E whichdetermine low bar cuts. The center lines of holes :il and llii and oiholes 5.3 and 53 are parallel, as shown particularly in Figs. l and 5,and they are so arranged that the movable locating bar 35 may have itsprojecting pegs or pins 36 and 3i located in one ci these two sets ofholes in the table top 35i. in that case, the skip bar and its scale beturned into the positions of Fig. 6 or 7 or substantially at 45 degreesto its positions oi Figs, 4 and 5. Thus, when the punch is operated, itsside :tace 5:2 will punch a flat or straight line surface parallel withthe front edge of the skip bar. Thus, if one is to make the elongatedshallow high bar notch l5 at the left hand end of Fig. l, two notchesare punched in the end positions of that elongated notch while the skipbar is in the front position of Fig. 4. When all such end notches havebeen made as required, the locating bar 35 and the assembled skip barand scale bar are moved into the position of Fig. 6 so that by operatingthe handle of the punch press the flat edge 52 of the punch can be madeto punch the straight edge end portion of the bottom part of the notch45. Then the bar is moved far enough along to punch a second or thirdportion and thus cut out the uncut part between the end notches thatdenne the position of the elongated notch 1.5. lf it is desired to cutan elongated dat edged notch in a low bar position, such as the portion53 of Fig, 1, then the locating bar is moved from the first set of holeslil' and i8 to the second or rear set of holes ai! and 5t (Figs. i and?)so that the skip bar is moved closer toward the center of the punch, andoperation of the punch will cause it to cut the flat surface of Fig. 1as is indicated primarily in Fig. '7.

It will now be appreciated that one may leave the skip bar in theposition of Fig. 4 and cut all of the high bar notches as required, andthen move the locating bars 35 to the second position of Fig. 5 and cutdeeper notches or low bar cuts. Then the locating bar 35 may be moved tothe i5 degree position of either Fig. 6 or Fig. 7 to cut the elongatedshallow ordeep portions of. the notchesas needed.

Various modifications may be made in this device for cutting notches inthe straight edge of a dat skip bar. For example, the guide bar 35 maybe movably mounted on the table 30 by interchanging the pegs and holesof the two parts or by otherwise adjustably swiveling or mounting thebar, as will be understood. Primarily, that guide bar 35 provides astraight edge against which the removably assembled unit of the skip barand its associated scale bar may be held manually and slid along to anydesired position as indicated by the scale marker 20. The scale bar l Iand the skip bar i 9 have straight edges adapted to be held inparallelism so that they may be adjustably moved along that locating orguide bar 35 and be held in a proper position for outting the notch. Thesteel guide bar 35 has a notch 54 of suitable shape and dimensions, sothat the guide bar may be moved lengthwise between the two positions ofeither of its sets of peg holes so as not to interfere with theoperation of a cutting tool. That cutting tool has its two front facesarranged preferably at right angles to each other, and in that case thelocating holes 4'? to 55 are arranged to provide center lines for theVarious sets of holes which are parallel with the side face 52 of thecutter so as to make the hat bottomed notch. It will be understood thatthe line connecting the centers of holes 58 and 39 is parallel to thecenter line connecting the centers of holes 42 and 43. Similarly thecenter Yline oi the set of holes ll'! and 48 is parallel to the centerline of holes 49 and 59. The two sets of holes are oiiset longitudinallyof the guide bar 35, but this merely requires moving the guide barlengthwise as well as laterally to position it as required. The guidebar is readily slipped into place behind the cutting tool i6 andoriented as needed.

The operation of the device has been described and need not be amplied.By this device it is now possible to cut a skip bar accurately andquickly, in accordance with markings on the scale bar which match thoseof the card to be punched on the key punch machine. After making allneeded shallow notches for the position of Fig. 4, the guide bar may bemoved to any of the positions of Figs. 5, 6 and 7 and the notches thencompleted. Y

It will now-be appreciated that the above disclosure of a preferredembodiment of this invention is not to be interpreted as imposingYlimitations on the appended claims.

I claim:

l. .A skip bar notching device comprising a reciprocable cutting toolhaving two cutting edges arranged at an angle for cutting a notch, astraight edged skip bar, a Itable for supporting the skip bar opposed tothe tool, means for reciprocating the tool to out the bar, a straightedged scale bar, means for removably attaching the two bars as anassembled unit having their straight edges parallel and the skip barprojecting laterally beyond the scale bar by at least the depth of anotch to be out, a guide bar which provides a straight edge againstwhich the assembled unit may be slidably held on the table, locatingmembers on the guide bar, parts on the table cooperating with thelocating members which hold the skip bar alternatively only in one offour fixed positions, two for holding its front edge in parallelpositions and so located that a V- shaped notch of one of two 'depthsmay be cut in the skip bar, and two for locating the bar at a fixedangle relative to the V notched positions and only at one of twodistances relative to and parallel with the straight side of the cutterso that the cutter may out an elongated notch whose bottom edge isstraight and parallel with the front edge of the skip bar, and a markerfor locating the scale bar relative to the cutting tool.

2. A device according to claim 1 in which the guide bar has two ixablyspaced projecting pegs and the table has four sets of aligned holes forpositioning said pegs only in one of said four positions, two primarysets having their center lines parallel and arranged to locate the guidebar edge alternatively in one of two parallel positions for cuttingeither deep or shallow V-shaped notches in the skip bar, and the othertwo sets of peg holes having their center lines parallel and arranged atan angle to the primary sets and parallel with one cutting edge of thetool so that a shallow or a deep iiat bottomed notch may be out in theskip bar.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 118,419 Wood Aug. 22, 1871 352,683 Everest Nov. 16, 1886l1,531,287 Jensen Mar. 31, 1925 1,594,155 Dunfey July 27, 1926 1,736,143Townsend Nov. 19, 1929 2,076,436 Nelson Apr. 6, 1937 2,192,531 GradyMar. 5, 1940 2,502,056 Million Mar. 28, 1950

